FIREMEN came to the rescue when a tot locked her pregnant mum out of the house.

FIREMEN came to the rescue when a tot locked her pregnant mum out of the house.

Pint-sized Olivia Burke, three-and-a-half-years-old, turned the key after her mum, Kate, went outside to collect washing on the line at their home in Brook Lane, Newton.

Then she couldn't turn the key back, leaving her mum, who is expecting, stuck in the back garden on Thursday of last week at about 5pm.

'I asked her to turn it,' said Mrs Burke. 'But she got in a panic. And because I'm pregnant I couldn't climb in through a window or anything.

'We both got very distressed. She was crying and I was crying and I was shouting for help.'

Mrs Burke, a community nurse, whose husband Brendan was working in Harrogate at the time, managed to force the back gate and went round to a next-door neighbour.

They decided the best option was to call the fire brigade and firefighter Steve Seager persuaded the toddler to go to the French windows which she managed to open.

'They were lovely,' said Mrs Burke. They were so helpful and understanding. I would like to thank them. They were really wonderful.'

Mrs Burke, who has only just moved into this house, said this was not the first time Olivia had locked herself in. At a previous home she did exactly the same but was persuaded to post the keys through the letter-box. The fire service has advised the family to take the keys out of the lock to prevent a repetition.

'She's quite an adventurous child!' said Mrs Burke.

Firefighter Seager, who talked to Olivia through a window, said: 'They were both distressed. Because the little girl is only three she was not really strong enough to turn the key. I convinced her she was and eventually she opened it.'